A monument, designed by Bacon, is erected in the church at Reading. Beneath the inscription are the crosier or pastoral staff; the rod of Aaron, which budded and yielded almonds; and the book mentioned in the Revelations, as sealed with seven seals.
The Rev. Charles Sturges was presented to this rectory in 1797. Respectful mention is made of him in Mrs. Trimmer’s publication on the Sunday Schools of Old Brentford. He has a copy of Latin verses in the Musæ Etonenses, and another in the Academiæ Cantabrigiensis Luctus, on the death of George II. The sudden death of Mr. Sturges was another verification of that passage in our Burial Service, “In the midst of life we are in death,” &c., which he had read many times at the graves of the parishioners. He expired on the 22nd of April, 1805, after only half an hour’s illness, from an apoplectic seizure, immediately before the hour of dinner, at the rectory of Loddington, Northamptonshire, and his remains were interred in the chancel of that church.
The Hon. and Rev. Gerald Valerian Wellesley, D.D., succeeded Mr. Sturgess. A notice of him will be found in the account of the New Parish Church.
The Rev. R. H. Davies, M.A., who had been previously senior curate of the new Parish Church, succeeded the Rev. John Rush when he died in 1855, as Incumbent of the Old Church. Through his exertions and instrumentality, a small vestry, or robing room, has been attached to the church. The great inconvenience and injury to the Minister’s health, arising from his having to walk across the churchyard in his robes, and also to change them, especially in the winter months, had been sadly experienced and justly complained of by almost every officiating clergyman in my recollection. Very considerable alterations and great improvements have likewise been made in the interior of the church, during the fourteen years that Mr. Davies has been the Incumbent, without interfering greatly with its ancient architecture. Perhaps the best way to convey an adequate idea of what has been accomplished will be to give an account of the expenses, taken from a Report recently published.
The New Gallery £395 11 0 Re-pewing 420 13 6 New Stoves, &c. 44 15 0 Iron Railing 65 0 0 Ventilators 32 18 9 East Window 83 18 7 Reading Desk 5 3 6 New Vestry, &c 94 14 3 Corona in Chancel 12 0 0 Alterations to Organ 60 0 0